A.G. Gancarski, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiJune 18, 2018

With less than a year before Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry faces the voters, a “good news/bad news” scenario awaits his political operation. The good news: there’s no viable competition filed to run against him yet, even as one could make the argument that City Council antagonists Anna Brosche and Garrett Dennis have sounded like candidates for a while. The […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 18, 2018

On Monday, criticism of President Donald Trump‘s policy of migrant family separation at the Mexican border poured in, finally, from Republicans. The policy involves warehousing immigrant children in former Walmarts and other holding areas. Tent cities for overflow have been proposed. In the last six weeks, 2,000 migrant children — at least — have been separated from their families, with […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 18, 2018

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry kicked off his administration’s summer jobs program Monday, rebranded as the “Mayor’s Youth at Work Partnership.” Now in its 12th year, the program will serve 350 youth aged 16-21 between June 18 and July 27. They will have job opportunities; 20 hour-a-week gigs with both the city and the private sector. The goal […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 18, 2018

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry has been in re-election mode for a few months, and after a year of political turbulence in City Hall, a smoother flight looks likely for the first-term Republican incumbent’s fourth year in office. For one thing, ally Aaron Bowman, who shares Curry’s aggressive vision for downtown development, will be Council President. Bowman […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 17, 2018

Here in Florida, our politicians message around Father’s Day with tweets and Facebook messages of pure, uncut sentimentality. Yet, at various outposts near the U.S./Mexican border, a different narrative unfolds between parents and children. President Donald Trump’s administration is under scrutiny for its decision to warehouse immigrant children in former Walmarts and other holding areas. […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 16, 2018

Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam continued his Northeast Florida swing this weekend, opening a Jacksonville campaign headquarters Saturday with loads of prominent Republicans in attendance. U.S. Rep. John Rutherford and state Sen. Aaron Bean, two of the most prominent Republican elected officials in Northeast Florida, were there in support. Likewise in the house: Jacksonville City Council President-designate Aaron Bowman, Council […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 16, 2018

Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam has endured a couple of bad news cycles as he vies for the Republican nomination for Governor. First, there was the issue with concealed weapons permits. Putnam’s office didn’t complete checks on 365 permits between Feb. 2016 and Mar. 2017. Then, just as that item faded from the public consciousness, another issue: […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 16, 2018

In Jacksonville Saturday, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam took a question from this outlet similar to one Gov. Rick Scott answered a day earlier. Namely, the Republican gubernatorial candidate was asked if he stood behind the Donald Trump administration policy of separating migrant children from their parents, placing those children in holding facilities and possibly (if plans come to fruition) tent cities. Widely reported […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 15, 2018

Florida Professional Firefighters, which represents over 25,000 firefighters and EMS personnel across Florida, did not respect party lines in its wave of state endorsements rolled out Friday. Republicans Adam Putnam and Denise Grimsley got the group’s backing for Governor and Agriculture Commissioner; Democrat Sean Shaw got the imprimatur for Attorney General. “As our Commissioner of Agriculture, Adam has […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 15, 2018

On Thursday, the Jacksonville Daily Record broke news about a City Hall conceptual drawing of the space where the Jacksonville Landing is now. Gone: the 30-year-old riverfront mall, which has been a source of civic contention for well over a decade. In its stead: a riverfront park. Legal action continues between the city and Jacksonville Landing […]

A.G. Gancarski

Lenny Curry critics ‘chirp’ about strongman tactics, transparency issues, stalled agenda

Jeb Bush decries ‘heartless’ migrant family separation policy, highlights split between GOP electeds

Jacksonville youth summer jobs program to emphasize ‘career pathways’

Will real competition emerge to stop Lenny Curry’s re-election?

Father’s Day message: Florida Republicans defend family separations at Mexican border

Adam Putnam opens Jacksonville HQ with big-time local support

Adam Putnam blames Dems for politicizing Daytona roller coaster tragedy

Adam Putnam thinks ‘secure borders’ would stop federal internment of migrant kids

Firefighters endorse Adam Putnam, Sean Shaw, Denise Grimsley

Jacksonville Landing park: The first big idea of Lenny Curry’s second term?